Telangana to Host Khelo India Youth Games 2026
Telangana is set to host the Khelo India Youth Games 2026 from December 11 to 22, featuring nearly 6,000 athletes across 27 competitive sports.
Get your running shoes ready and cheer out loud! The exciting Khelo India Youth Games 2026 will take place in the vibrant state of Telangana from December 11 to December 22, 2026. Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya officially announced the full schedule for this thrilling national sporting event.
This mega celebration will bring together nearly 6,000 young athletes along with approximately 1,800 dedicated support staff. Energetic boys and girls from across Indian states and union territories will travel to compete, build new friendships, and display their finest skills over 12 action-packed days.
What happened?
This event marks a historic first because Telangana has never hosted the Youth Games before in the history of the Khelo India initiative. The bustling capital of Hyderabad will serve as the primary host city, staging 22 medal sports at top facilities including the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium in Basheerbagh and the Gachibowli Sports Complex.
The sporting fun will also reach many other corners of the state! Five other Telangana districts will host specific competitions. Hanumakonda will welcome athletics, Khammam will stage archery, Karimnagar will host judo, Nizamabad will organise table tennis, and Mahbubnagar will see fast-paced kabaddi matches.
Altogether, participants will take part in 27 competitive sports alongside one demonstration sport. This edition introduces some exciting changes to the line-up. Softball is set to make its official debut as a competitive medal discipline at the Games, offering athletes a brand new chance to aim for glory.
Water sports are also enjoying a special spotlight this time. Rowing has been included in the competitive roster for this edition, replacing rugby. In addition, sailing has been added to the KIYG programme for the first time as a demonstration event to encourage games played on natural water bodies. Defending champion Maharashtra will head into the tournament hoping to hold on to the title won at the previous edition in Bihar.
Why does it matter to you?
The Khelo India Youth Games provide a massive national stage for student athletes just like you to discover their talents and represent their home states. Watching school students and teenagers compete across dozens of different games shows you what is possible with practice, determination, and teamwork.
Seeing thousands of young sports stars can encourage you to step outside, play new games in your physical education class, and lead a healthy life. Discovering a passion for activities like rowing, running, or archery might even start your journey towards big tournaments like the Olympic Games one day!
Words to know
- demonstration sport: a sport played at a tournament to show it to fans and encourage interest, without awarding official championship medals
- defending champion: the winner of the previous competition who plays again to protect their title
- roster: the official list of events, games, or players scheduled in a sporting competition
- debut: the very first time an event, player, or sport appears in a public tournament
Did you know?
Did you know that sailing was specially added as a demonstration event this year to encourage more boys and girls to try out sports played on natural open water bodies like lakes and coastal waters?
Think about it
If you could pick one of the 27 competitive sports to train for at school, which one would you choose? How does playing outdoor sports with your classmates help build strong friendships?
Quick quiz
Which sport is making its official debut as a competitive medal discipline at the 2026 Games?
- Softball
- Rugby
- Sailing
See the answer
Softball
Sources
This story was prepared by the Kids Gazette news desk with the help of AI research and writing tools, using the sources listed above.
